The Federal Government, on Friday, initiated the establishment of the implementation committee for Nigeria’s digital health initiative.
The committee, composed of 20 members, will oversee data policy, regulation, repository management, and act as an ombudsman to create a national digital health environment conducive to scaling up digital health interventions.
During the inauguration in Abuja, Prof Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, highlighted that digitalizing healthcare will enhance patient experience, data protection, and ultimately improve health outcomes while reducing costs.
Dr Tunji Alausa, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare and committee chairman, emphasized the need to transcend electronic medical and health records (EMR, EHR) to encompass broader digitalization in health.
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He stressed the importance of quality data in achieving President Bola Tinubu’s vision for the sector and emphasized the role of digitalization in health delivery and achieving universal health coverage.
Alausa outlined plans for a national unified EMR platform to enhance efficiency, monitor public health, and facilitate data exchange.
The platform’s pilot phase will commence in federal tertiary hospitals and one state per geopolitical zone before expanding nationwide.
The committee, comprising experts in digital health, technology, and healthcare administration, underscores the government’s commitment to achieving universal health coverage and revitalizing Nigeria’s health sector productivity.
In agreement, Daju Kachallom, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, reiterated that the digital health initiative aligns with the Strategic Vision for the Health Sector (2023 – 2026), aiming to build an efficient, equitable, and quality health system through data-driven decision-making processes integrated across various health system facets.